Jurgen Klinsmann has added another date on the busy calendar that the U.S. National Team has for the summer. In between friendlies with Scotland and Canada, the U.S. will be host Brazil

Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) was named to the Republic of Ireland squad for the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

The 24-year-old Smyth, who will start her second season with Amazon Grimstad FK in Norway's Toppserien in April, has six career caps. She has dual citizenship because her father, Brendan, was born and raised in Ireland.

Icy Saturdays are meant to be enjoyed in nice warm houses with pints of lovely beer abd the telly on. Waterloo's home game was cancelled so that left us free to do just that. There are few more beautiful trophies in world sport than the Calcutta Cup, it was great to see a young, inexperienced side lift it although really Scotland were the better side.

photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com

It appears U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is making a concentrated effort to get to know CONCACAF teams prior to World Cup qualifying.

According to a report, the United States will travel to Canada to take on its northern rival in a friendly before World Cup qualifying begins in June.

Behind the Axe looks at some of the finances behind the most recent signings for the Portland Timbers. While the contract terms and numbers aren't released, the rules of MLS contracts did provide the Timbers some financial benefits that potentially helped them in the signing of Kris Boyd, a striker from Scotland.

photo by ISIphotos.com

Five months is all that separates the U.S. men's national team from the start of its World Cup qualifying campaign, and a friendly against Scotland appears to be in the works prior to then.

According to a report in Scotland, the U.S. Soccer Federation is in talks with the Scottish Football Association over a potentialy friendly.

Okay. It's not just me. I've asked a few people if this thing looks like it should be worn with a kilt and have 100% agreement.
Wait a minute...Isn't Beckham intent on leading Team Great Britain at the London Olympics this summer? What better way to get the Scots on board with his leadership, eh?

I have more goodies coming over the next week, but let's just settle a couple of things for now. Folks seem to over-deciphered a comment by Rangers boss Ally McCoist when he said he was open to sending Alejandro Bedoya out on loan. I can assure you he will not be doing so, that there are no such discussions occurring and that the manager is happy with the player's progress at Ibrox.

We have five matches for you this evening, from the Blue Square Premier to Division One Central of the Southern League, and finishing off with the Premier Division of the Super League in Scotland. First up is a match that we have already mentioned on this site today, the Blue Square Premier match between Wrexham and Kettering Town.

[T]his hasn't been a plum week in the history of MK Dons. Their dumping out of the cup at the hands of Premier League QPR on Tuesday night followed a weekend of sincere apology from all involved at the club after the farcical cancellation of their League One match with Carlisle. The game was the only weather casualty in the entirety of the professional game across England and Scotland – a mind blowing situation that owed much to bad planning and which was unbecoming for a stadium which was one the England 2018 bid's chosen host venues.

If you've got a moment or two to spare might I point you in the direction of The Away End?
They're on the lookout for the 100 greatest Scottish league players of all time.
That is the best players - of all nationalities - to have graced league football in Scotland over the decades.

Former Celtic hero Shunsuke Nakamura proved his set-piece talent has not diminished since leaving Celtic Park by performing this TV stunt in his native Japan. The 34-year-old, currently playing for Yokohama F Marinos, was tasked with firing a free-kick into a moving bus. The midfielder was positioned in a side-street and watched the bus approaching [.

Interview with artist Craig Coulthard, the mind behind Forest Pitch, an event that will be part of the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad. Conducted by Eric Beard.

Succinct Briefing About Forest Pitch: A full size football pitch hidden deep within a commercial forest in the Scottish Borders.

Last November I held the Scottish Football Blog's first - perhaps only - blogathon.
One post an hour for 24 hours with topics chosen on Twitter and by fellow bloggers.
All in aid of two fantastic charities: Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup.
24 hours, a few energy drinks, too many cigarettes and 17,000 words later and I was done.

Winter of discontent Former Premier League referee Jeff Winter has got a few questions to answer this morning after a strange sectarian article appeared on his official website. Winter has been blogging his travels around Australia and New Zealand over the festive period. But one of the blog posts takes a very peculiar take on [.

1000 days. Or thereabouts.
After a rather dull game of Westminster-Holyrood constitutional ping pong, Alex Salmond has named his (rough) date.
The destiny of a nation, as dictated by the constitutional will of the Scottish people, will be decided in the autumn of 2014.
What a year to pick.

Sochaux has made a second offer for Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu. Consider this full confirmation reporting. That is all for now. Over and out.See? I needed 145 characters for that.- Greg Seltzer

Free agent Scottish striker Kris Boyd, formerly of Rangers, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and most recent, Eskişehirspor, is apparently considering an offer from the Dynamo, at least according to Bryan Swanson of Sky Sports.

Boyd is 28-years old and has a fairly strong goal scoring record from his Rangers days, including three 20+ goal seasons.

New SPL TV deal Good or bad for Scottish football? is a post from: Just Football

by William Heaney

Not surprisingly, the news that Sky and ESPN have extended their deal to provide coverage of the SPL has been well received within the Scottish football community.

The two companies have been the league's main broadcasting partners since 2009, when they came to the rescue after Setanta's collapse.

Mirror: What are the odds Phil Jones ISN'T in England's Euro 2012 squad? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Manchester City in round three and now Liverpool in round four. If Manchester United are going to win the FA Cup they're going to do it the hard way... with Phil Jones in the side.

By Chris Wright

Boom! Back in the saddle after a week in the wilderness (well, 'Scotland' to give it it's Latin name) and a couple of brief flirtations with death on the rather blustery drive home in the wee small hours of this morning. It's good to be home/alive.

After being cut off from the rest of civilisation for the past few days, I thought I'd kick-off the new year with the only football-related thing I've been exposed to in 2012 this video of an anonymous football fan, clearly irked by a shonky performance, attempting to take out his anger on a stadium seat and losing out badly.

Johor in the second tier Malaysia Premier League have reportedly signed English striker Richard Offiong. If true then the 28 year old striker is no stranger to playing overseas. Previously he has plied his trade in Scotland, Turkey, South Korea, Belgium, Australia and Sweden.

Scotland's main ITV channel, STV, has agreed to go into partnership with one of Glasgow's football teams, Rangers. Rangers Football Club and STV are working together to capitalise on commercial and brand opportunities in Scotland and internationally.

Midfielder Charlie Adam has no qualms about taking Liverpool's next penalty despite squandering the spot-kick which saw his side lose ground on the Premier League's top five.
Having created a number of chances against Wigan on Wednesday night, Gary Caldwell's handball gave the Reds the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock just after half-time.

It's a special time of year. A time of year for gathering with people you hardly see and don't really know all that well, getting inappropriately drunk, and reminiscing about all the time you've wasted over the past twelve months that you're never getting back. If it's an especially good year, it won't end with you weeping softly to yourself in a corner somewhere.

Sadly, this guy is not on the list. (But he should be. And he is certainly fabulous.)

The men to earn hate and derision from entire nations take charge of the Euro 2012 next summer have been given their summons papers, along with, hopefully, a sizable security detail. Refereeing is one of those jobs that knowing the names at hand isn't necessarily a good thing, as the premier among them go unnoticed.

On this week's predictions we feature some of the festive football taking place in England, as well as the big top-of-the-table clash in Scotland: Celtic and Rangers.

Been a little under the weather this weekend, so I've been moving slowly - another way of saying sleep all day. I nearly plum forgot about the owed Carlos Bocanegra goal clip and took a while to notice Tony Taylor's strike in a losing cause on Sunday. It's now Monday, which means tons to do, which means quit the moaning and get 'er done.

1. Wayne Rooney's hair transplant was definitely worth it. His new quiff got the ball rolling for Manchester United in their match against QPR. 2. The QPR supporters' "Warnock for England" chants might encourage Blackburn fans to try a change of tactics. Kean for Scotland, anyone? 3. Then again, if Aston Villa keep putting in [.

According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool are allegedly interested in signing Dundee United and Scottish under-21 midfielder Scot Allen The Mail's article, which doesn't have any quotes or credible sources, states:"Sportsmail can reveal that Kenny Dalglish hopes to fend off competition from the Ibrox side, Celtic and West Brom for the Scotland Under-21 cap.

We've got two goals to talk about today, but thus far only one clip. While we're waiting on the video of Carlos Bocanegra's opener in a Rangers win, let's laud Clint Dempsey for his opener in Fulham's much-needed win. The U.S. star now has three goals in the last four games, taking his season total across all competitions up to eight.

Mistaken identity What do mean you can't see it? They're like two peas in a pod. Just ask Greek referee Michael Koukoulakis, who managed to confuse the pair during last night's Europa League clash between Udinese and Celtic. The ref showed Cha Du-Ri two yellow cards during the match. But at some point between the [.

Modric and Sneijder should be top of Fergie's shopping list

Gutted for Darren Fletcher, who looks like missing the rest of the season with a bowel disorder. I think he's seriously under-rated as a big-game player for Manchester United and Scotland. What I, and I'm sure millions of United fans would like to see now is Sir Alex Ferguson responding to his side's injury crisis by throwing his transfer beliefs out of the window for this January only.

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Spanish striker David Villa is likely to be out for a lengthy spell ( see Villa leg injury video below) on the sidelines after breaking his leg in [.

Liverpool are being touted to make a shock January move for in-form Wolves striker Steven Fletcher.
The Scottish striker, who has bagged six goals in ten appearances this season has reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who is growing concerned at his side's lack of goals this term.

Another way Aluking at it All football personalities on the Internet are subject to the wrath of online hardmen. Even your humble OTP is subject to the odd death-threat every once in a while. But there's no doubt that the players themselves bear the brunt of this. So the cutting insight provided by Rangers new [.

The fat lady has yet to sing, but it's all but over, or just plain over, in three of the four groups in this year's NextGen Series. From the top ... Celtic needed a serious dose of luck to keep their European adventure going. A group-dominating giant had to be slain by a relative minnow twice. They also had to beat Barcelona in Barcelona.

At some point in the not too distant future the seemingly never ending round of discussions on the ifs, buts and polls are going to turn into the real thing.
The SNP government in Scotland will unleash the referendum campaign proper.
The Scottish Football Blog has its own views on Scottish independence.

The similarities between the most populous city in Oregon and Spencer's birthplace do not end there. The 41-year-old is now living in another football-crazy town. "Portland is the home of soccer in America," he says. "The game is so popular here. The playing fields are packed at the weekend.

Personal transfer fee Sone Aluko has revealed that he, his friends and family had to stump up £200,000 to complete his move to Rangers. The 22-year-old's transfer was on the verge of collapse when the champions refused to stump up the compensation being demanded by his former club Aberdeen. According to the Daily Record: Faced [.